This. I'd like to see these addressed too as the forum rules enforcement seem to be lacking in this area. I think we can have reasonable rules regarding these without getting heavy handed.

I just remembered one thing I'd like to mention: don't let our resident trolls and troublemakers let you believe they're the victims. In the past they provoked other users and then proceeded to report them to a new CM who hasn't yet completely get used to the forums. Please be mindful of that when you're about to punish someone.

Yeah, I think context is key. Some people have a history of starting fights and posting very aggressively and as such there are many people here who dislike them. They like to portray themselves as victims of a conspiracy, but the most likely explanation is that they're not very well liked by a lot of people (completely independently).

Yes please, let's not reset everything everytime a CM changes (+_+)
Ask other blues about who are the trolls, fanatics, nutjobs, alts, etc..

Welcome, but please remember fish are friends not food. :P

Anyway, glad to see someone will be around in the forums more. Keep your ear to the ground, etc. Also if you would like to join us over at /r/GOG just send me a private message here and we can get your account verified over there too. I'm a mod over there by the way. Cheers.

What's Gog about that picture (which I can only assume is a map put together in the editor?)

It's an ever so slightly different version than the one I use myself. Had to name it something. =)

I wouldn't disdain the conspiracy part altogether, some users did get targeted for no reason, see "zeogold" to name one.

True. However, I feel this would become a non-issue if the rules were applied uniformly per incident. Like if you violated the rules it wouldn't matter if you are the wonderful, beloved, pillar of the community or a horrible, scary, troll and literally Hitler. Same violation should equal same punishment in all cases.

deleted

Yeah, but in the case of some, they're so unpleasant to others at the drop of a hat it's hard to believe their low rep is anything other than a consequence of that.

Conspiracy is not the right word. It indicates you're hiding something, and that's just not the case.

From day one I have been very open about the fact that there are only three actual people in this forum: zeo, Tauto, and myself. All the others are my alts.

Whoops, I didn't mean to tell everyone that.

EDIT: Wrong account, pls ignore.

Also edit: Just a bad joke, move on. Please don't ban me. :P

I actually don't agree with such non-discriminative policing.
If you are Hitler, you are most likely stirring for trouble for profit, self gratification or plain due to being evil.
When you act bad, you should be punished severely, If you continue, a (semi-)permanent ban is definitely in order.
Not the same if you are a beloved pillar... or just an average joe who happen to make a mistake during an emotional argument.

Where I do agree, is single posts should be dealt with non bias objectivity - If you smear, you should be prepared to get your post die miserably no matter how productive your other arguments were and who's on your team of followers.
But posts dying due to spam reports mechanic should definitely get revised and only used for actual spam and foul language.

edit: I do wonder the trigger and non conspiracy that caused me losing a rep point just now - considering I only posted in 4 threads today, the summer sale page, the removal of Fall Flat , this thread and "that other one" mentioned here earlier.

edit 2: I found the reason for the loss of one point, I leave it to you to judge if it was justified or targeted by bias.

edit 3: that one post, that wasn't even remotely offending, just opposing someones own (unjustified) belief,
got down-voted enough to make me lose 3 rep points in 2 hours time, until that whole thread was removed.
sure, there is no clique and no conspiracy, sure.